Assigs



(No Model.)

G. H. WELLS.

TRUNK.

No. 331.351. Patented Dec. 1. 1885.

lien -rap STATES Parent @rricn.

TO FRANK R. GHAPMAN,

OF SAME PLACE.

TRUNK.

formingpart of Letters Patent No. 381,351, dated December 1,1885. Application filed April 13, 1885. Serial No. 102,047.

(No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE H. WELLs, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city of Boston, in the county of Suffolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Trunks, Chests, and Similar Articles, of which the following is afull, clear, and exact description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part'of this specification, and in which like letters of reference in dicate corresponding parts.

My invention relates to the manner curing the cover or lid of trunks and similar articles to the body of the samc,-and by which means the said cover can be readily manipulated, as hereinafter described, and for the purposes indicated also, other novel improvements, as shown and set forth.

Figure l is a perspective elevation representing the cover raised. spective elevation representing the cover down and drawn forward. Fig. 3 is a sectional of seelevation of a trunk and cover when closed,

taken on a vertical line through joint, Fig. 2, a, and represents an inside end of a closed trunk. Fig. l is a perspective elevation of a corner band or strap of the trunk. Fig. 5 is a perspective elevation of a corner band or strap for the cover. Fig. 6 is a perspective view of an independent guard. Fig. 7 are views of the joint device. Figs. 8 and 9 are modifications of the bands or straps Figs. at and p A is the body of the trunk; A, its cover or lid. xis a corner band or strap for the trunkbody, and y a corner band or strap for the cover. The bands wand yare placed adjacent to each other, shown.

Referring to Fig. 4-, x is the band bent at right angles, formed of metal, and is placed as represented in Fig. 1. Near the corner of said band 1 preferably form a slight depression, at, into which the pulley 3 Fig. 5, rolls as the lid is closed and in which it rests.

.t" is a slot formed in the band, into which the projection y formed on band y, Fig. 5, enters when said lid is closed. A guard, so, Fig. at, is preferably placed on the side of band 00. In the slot so formed the arm 0, Fig. 1,

Fig. 2 is a per moves. A separate guard, such as shown in Fig. 6, may be used instead of guard 00 Fig. 4.

The devices just described tend to prevent lateral displacement of the cover when closed.

The bands are fastened to the frame-work in the usual manner by screws, nails, or rivets placed in the holes :0 Fig. 4, 3/, Fig. 5, w,

The parts which correspond in some degree to the ordinary joints or butts are shown in Fig. 7. These parts also aid in holding the cover when closed from lateral displacement, and serve to hold the lid vertically in its proper position. The part a is preferably formed with a beveled side, a. The part b is formed as shown, and both are secured to the frame, asshown in Fig. 3. The exact form of the parts a Z) is not essential. Any form which is capable of securing the cover from vertical displacement at the back in this combination is sufficient.

The arms 0, Fig. 1, are fastened to the frame, as shown, one end to the cover and the other to the body. An ordinary rivet or bolt may be used for this purpose; but I prefer the plate f, Figs. 1 and 3, and a rivet, c especially for the end attached to the cover. The holes in the ends of the arms 0 are slightly larger than the rivets by which they are se cured, so that in the operation of opening or closing the lid or cover the arms may turn on the rivets as if journaled thereon, for it is obvious that if the arms were rigidly and immovably fastened at their ends the device would be wholly inoperative. It will also be observed that the arms 0 are not mere stays, like the devices usually so called, and which are used in ordinary trunks to prevent the cover from falling either backward or forward when raised. As soon as the parts a b are disengaged in the act of raising the cover the arms a form the only direct connection securing the cover to the body. In my invention no stays as such are required.

The arms 0 are made of one piece of metal, preferably, and without joint. rigid arms at all times, and when the cover is closed act as braces for the cover to prevent lateral strains coming from either direction.

The parts a I), preventing vertical movement They are thus ICO of the back of the cover from the body, combine with the arms 0 in holding the cover upon the body in a most efficient manner. The lock usually placed in front of course holds the cover down when closed.

The cover can be removed or brought forward from the back of the trunk when raised to a perpendicular position more or less, as desired. This is accomplished by either varying the length of the arms a or by securing the said arms at their ends, either forward or backward of the points shown in the drawings. In cases where the cover is very high or very rounding it is necessary to bring the cover far forward in order to clear the wall of the room when the trunk stands against the wall. \Vhen the cover is upright, it should be forward of the vertical line of the back of the trunk-body.

My invention is adapted to trunks or similar articles of all sizes, shapes, or styles. The arms '0 preferably pass through the guard 00 or guard at, if used, and slide in the slot of the guard, which slot is longer than the width of the arm. This is necessary in operating the device, and also enables the cover to be drawn forward over the body, as hereinafter explained.

In order that the cover may be rigidly held in place when closed, I use the parts a 1). Further strength is also imparted by the projection 3 entering the slot or hole 00 in the hand. These parts act with the arms 0 to perfectly secure the cover to the body when in its normal position, while the arms 0 are the efficient device in raising the lid or cover and in all its manipulations. They also support the cover when raised.

The pulley y aids in the operation of opening or closing the cover, and makes with the bands a more perfect operative combination; but while these may be varied, as well as the parts a b and y x", to meet the requirements of the article upon which my invention is placed, the arms 0 cannot be essentially varied in the manner of their combination with the cover and body without seriously impairing the efficiency of my invention. I prefer to construct in the back of the body of the trunk a compartment by the partition B, Fig. 1. This is designed to be a receptacle for soiled linen or articles that it is not desir-able to have exposed to view when the cover is raised. In order to uncover this compartment, I have arranged so that I can draw the lid forward, as shown in Fig. 2. This is accomplished by means of the arms a.

In all other positions of the lid or cover the top or opening to the back compartment will be covered or screened from view by the lid itself.

In Figs. 8 and 9 I show modifications of bands, Figs. 4. and 5. -The projection y is extended in the form of a rib, m, Fig. 9, it

\ being tapered off preferably as shownin Fig.

9 at 00 The hole 09 in band a; may be formed as a continued depression, as shown in Fig.

8, y, and in this case the corner pulley would be formed to fit and roll upon the rib of. A pulley of this style is shown in Fig. 8. It is of course immaterial whether the projection is upon the trunk-body band or cover-band.

I am aware that trunks have been provided with devices for allowing the cover to be raised to a vertical position without removing the body of the trunk from the wall or side of the room. For instance, a double-jointed hinge applied to the back of the trunk has been employed. A device in which the cover is hung in stationary ears also enables the cover to be raised without withdrawing the body of the trunk from the wall, but in this device the expense of making the form of the cover and back is greatly increased, and the cover will not safely remain upright without an auxiliary hook or stay to support it. Neither of these forms permits the drawing forward of the cover over the body corre sponding to the position illustrated in Fig. 2; nor do they employ means similar to arms 0 in my invention.

My devices are cheaper in construction and overcome the difficulties attendant upon all other forms known to me.

The arms 0 in my invention are readily adjusted to any size trunk, and work equally well whatever the depth or thickness of the cover. They sustain the cover upright automatically. They facilitate the opening of the compartment D. They act as supports or braces to the cover when closed, and perform other important functions in combination with the minor devices herein shown and described.

I am not aware that arms similar to arms 0 have ever before been combined with the body and cover substantially upon the principle of my invention; nor have arms or other devices been combined with parts corresponding wit-h parts a 1). Both of these features are especially valuable, and are substantial parts of my present invention.

Having now fully described the parts and operation thereof, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is-

1. In a trunk or similar article, the combination of the parts a 1), arms 0, band 00, provided with the depression :12, hole 00 guard as, and band y, provided with the pulley y and proj eetion y, all suitably secured to the frame, substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

2. The device herein described for connecting the cover of a trunk to its body, consisting of the combination, with the cover and body, of the arms 0 and parts a b, arranged and adapted to operate substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

3. The combination of the body A, cover A, the arms 0, one end of each arm pivoted to the body and the opposite ends pivoted to the cover, and adapted in the operation of opening to draw the back of the cover forward,

and loose joint hinges secured to the body adapted in such combination to hold the back and cover, substantially as and for the purof said cover from displacement when closed poses set forth. upon its body, substantially as specified.

4c. The combination, with the cover and GEORGE H. WELLS. 5 body of a trunk or similar article, of the rigid Witnesses:

arms a, fixedly pivoted at each end thereof, FRANK R. CHAPMAN,

and suitable loose joint hinges or pivots BoWDoiN S. PARKER. 

